Sine Suspension.

The Arktos is a one-of-a-kind, do-it-all 6-inch travel full-suspension bike designed to climb and descend with the same aplomb. The Arktos features a patented dual-linkage platform called the Sine Suspension, which was designed by suspension designer David Earle.

The Sine name is derived from the way the shock rate, when graphed, resembles a sine wave. With Sine, there is regression through the first part of the travel to absorb small bumps and provide climbing traction, progression in the middle of the stroke to avoid wallowing on big hits or in hard, fast corners, and then slight regression again at end stroke to enable full use of rear wheel travel. Sine is also designed to minimize chainstay growth to improve pedaling efficiency and keep the suspension active under braking.

Sine Tech

Suspension travel of the rear wheel can be divided into three areas; each area has a specific function. First is negative travel through sag point, second is mid range, third is deep travel to bottom out. The ideal suspension system will be designed to optimize each of these areas for the best suspension performance. Negative travel is responsible for small bump feel and should be plush, mid range should be firm and lively, end of travel should avoid ramping and feel bottomless, without bottoming out...this is exactly what Sine Suspension does.

Setting Sag

The Sine suspension system is optimized at 30% overall sag.

Sag is the amount of travel the shock compresses under normal rider weight. We recommend that you set the sag on at 30%, but personal preference and riding conditions are also factors influencing the amount of sag needed.

To check sag:

Get all of your gear on, so you start with an accurate rider weight.

With someone holding the bike, stand up on the pedals and get in your normal riding position on the bike.

Bounce up and down on the bike, compressing the rear end of the bike and the shock, and when you are steady again, have someone push the travel ring up the shock against the wiper seal.

Dismount the bike gently (so you don’t move the travel ring).

The amount of stanchion shown between the wiper and travel ring is your sag. 30% sag would show 21mm of exposed stanchion between the wiper and travel ring.